RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare and improve the methods of establishing animal model of experimental chronic sinusitis in rabbits .</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six New Zealand white rabbits were divided into seven groups: control group, sham-operation group I, sham-operation group II, bacteria inoculation group, ostia-blocked group, ostia-blocked and bacteria inoculation group, incomplete ostium blocked and set-cotton group. The animals were examined by the methods of histology and bacteriology after 42 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of chronic inflammation in ostium blocked group was 80%, inoculated staphylococcus group was 100%, incomplete ostium blocked and set-cotton group was 100%, and the other groups were 0%. All infected sinuses displayed signs of moderate or severe chronic inflammation. The cultivated bacteria were mainly opportunistic pathogens. The probability of having abscess in maxillary sinus was high in ostia-blocked and bacteria inoculation group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The method of incomplete ostium blockage and set cotton can establish stable chronic sinusitis model, it is a simple and perfect method.</p>